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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Introduction to Skin Cancer > Skin Cancer: Treatment

Skin Cancer: Treatment

Both surgical and non-surgical approaches are used in the treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. ⁽¹⁾ Treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer is made more difficult by the high frequency of recurrence. ⁽²⁾ For advanced melanoma, a highly successful treatment option for advanced disease has not yet to be identified. ⁽²⁾

Surgical Treatment
Excision of a skin cancer lesion is a frequent treatment option.  Excision may be curative for diseases that are in stages I or II (localized). ⁽³⁾

 

 

 

 

Learn about surgical treatment of cancer cells

Watch an interview with skin cancer specialist Dr. Suephy Chen.

Non-surgical Treatment
Alternate treatment methods are preferred for patients whose health does not allow them to enter into surgery or for patients with cancerous lesions located in regions difficult to access surgically.  Patients who undergo surgery may receive additional treatments. ⁽²⁾Examples of nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Radiotherapy - the use of high energy waves, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells.

  Learn more about radiotherapy.

• Photodynamic Therapy - a type of treatment in which an "inactive" medication is applied to the area of interest and then "activated" by exposure to specific wavelengths of light.  In the case of skin cancer, the agent may be applied directly to the skin in the form of a liquid. ⁽⁴⁾
• Topical Drug Treatments: an ointment containing imiquimod (Aldara™) has been used to treat basal cell carcinoma, genital warts and actinic keratosis.  Imiquimod is an immune response modifier that stimulates the immune system to eliminate cancer cells. View the package insert.

  Learn about the immune response and cancer.
  Learn more about Aldara™ from the manufacturer.

• Biological Treatments: biological treatments for melanoma include the use of interleukin 2 (IL-2).

  Learn about biological response modifiers and cancer.

• Specific Inhibitors: Kinase inhibitors, including sorafenib (Nexavar®) are being evaluated for treatment of advanced melanoma.

  Learn more about specific inhibitors.
  Learn more about kinase inhibitors, including sorafenib (Nexavar®).
  Learn more about Nexavar® from the manufacturer.

More Information

For information about how these and other cancer treatments work, refer to the Cancer Treatments section.

Learn more about Melanoma treatment at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Information about clinical trials:

• General clinical trial information.
• Click here for information about clinical trials from the National Cancer Institute.
• Click here for information about clinical trials from Georgia Clinical Trials Online.
• Click here for information about clinical trials at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

References for this page:

1. Rubin AI, Chen EH, Ratner D. "Basal-cell carcinoma." New England Journal of Medicine. 2005 Nov 24;353(21):2262-9. [PUBMED]
2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, v2.2007. www.nccn.org
3. Rager EL, Bridgeford EP, Ollila DW. "Cutaneous melanoma: update on prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment." American Family Physician. 2005 Jul 15;72(2):269-76. [PUBMED]
4. Fritsch C, Goerz G, Ruzicka T. "Photodynamic therapy in dermatology Archives of Dermatology." 1998 Feb;134(2):207-14. [PUBMED]